Dodd Lauds Closer China Ties for Hollywood

Former Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd, now head of the Motion Picture Association of America, is touting the close ties Hollywood now has with communist China.

"Along with the increasing level of exchanges between our two film industries, more partnerships have been formed, more cinemas have been built, more films have been produced and shown in both of our nations," he said Monday before the screening of a film co-produced by U.S. and Chinese studios, The Hill reports.

"It is my hope that we can continue to build the friendship and the cooperation we have established over these last [few] years to create a market environment that will sustain the long-term growth for both the Chinese and U.S. film industries."

There is plenty of expansion in China's film business that the U.S. industry can partake in, the former Connecticut senator said. China's annual box office receipts have grown to $2.7 billion from $120 million over the last 10 years.

Before Dodd’s speech, NBCUniversal announced that it plans to open an office in Beijing, The Hill reports.

U.S. studios have complained in the past about Chinese piracy of their work. There has been "some clear improvement" in that area, although it’s "not even close to where I’d like to see them," Dodd told The Hill.
Related Stories: